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Southampton was a growing town in the nineteenth century. With the coming of the railway in 1839 and the development of the docks, Southampton grew from a population of 27,000 in 1841 to 42,000 in 1861. The first horse-drawn omnibus service in the town started about the time the railway arrived, and by 1843 one Thomas Matcham was running a regular service from the station to Millbrook, Eling, Bitterne, Shirley, Portswood, Totton and Romsey.[1]

By 1872, tramways were becoming fashionable and the British and Foreign Tramway Company approached Southampton Corporation with a view to setting up a tramway in the town. Various objection were raised to this scheme, and the Corporation refused to allow tram lines to be laid in the High Street and Above Bar. The Company lost interest in the scheme.[1]

By 1876, the Corporation realised that Southampton was falling behind other places in regards to the provision of public transport. The Southampton Tramways Company was formed to build a new tramway system. Construction began in the summer of 1878.[1]

Services began on 5 May1879, with takings of £26 on that day. There was opposition to the running of trams on Sundays, and a petition of 3,500 signatures was raised against this practice. The manager of the company replied that patronage of the trams on Sundays showed that there was a demand for the service, and that as long as they showed a profit, the trams would continue to run. The first route opened was Stag Gate - Holy Rood, with approval to operate Alma Road - Canute Road - Oxford Street - High Street - Floating Dock and Stag Gates - Lodge Road - Portswood being received on 6 May1879. Tramway Junction - Commercial Road - Shirley opened on 9 June1879.[1]

The company was soon in trouble, with one manager having absconded to America in 1881, and another dismissed in 1882 over irregularities in the accounts. By 1887, the company was on a sound financial footing, and paying dividends of 8% per annum to its shareholders. From 22 October1889, the Portswood route operated via Spear Road and Avenue Road. In 1896, fares were reduced from 3d to 2d for the through routes, and frequence doubled to 5 minute intervals from Stag Gates to Holy Rood. Four new trams and forty more horses were required to operate this service.[1]

The Southampton Tramway Company was compulsorily purchased by Southampton Corporation on 30 June1898, at a price of £51,000.

Further extensions before the war were Clock Tower - Northam Bridge, 17 December1910. Holy Rood - High Street - Royal Pier, in June 1911 and Common (Highfield Road) - Common (Old Race Course) after July 1911. This latter destination was later known as "Rest Camp". After the war, further extension opened. Common (Rest Camp) - Bassett Crossroads, 25 March1921. Roberts Road - Millbrook, 5 January1922. Hampton Park - Swaythling, [[23 February] 1922. Bitterne Park Triangle - Bullar Road - Bitterne Station, 26 July1923. Bassett Crossroads - Burgess Road - Swaythling, 10 July1930. This latter bringing the system to its fullest extent. The only other new lines opened after this were the lines that bypassed Bargate. The east side opened on 24 April1932 and the west side on 5 June1938. Prewar closures were Roberts Road - Millbrook (except workmen's services), 2 October1935 (reinstated during the war) and Clock Tower - Northam Bridge, 4 June1926.[1]

The first trams were built by G F Milnes & Co., Birkenhead. The open upper deck had back-to-back "knifeboard" seats, necessary to fit under Bargate arch. No.2 converted into toastrack in 1916, sold to Portsmouth in 1919, becoming their No.104.

Twelve trams built in 1903 by Hurst, Nelson & Co. Originally built with three windows each side on the lower deck, all rebuilt within four years to have four windows each side as the original design did not offer enough support for the upper deck.

Southampton Tramways were mainly affected by staffing issues during World War One. With the introduction of female "conductorettes". Tram No.2, which had been converted to a toastrack in 1916, had a central gangway cut through for the benifit of the ladies. In the early years of the war, a tram went round Southampton for two hours twice a week, with a military band playing on the top deck, in an effort to boost recruitment.[1]

World War Two affected Southampton much more than World War One. Again women were employed, but this time they were allowed to drive the trams too. Car no.31 was destroyed by an incendary bomb on 30 November1940, the only loss of the war.[1]

The trams in Southampton had consistently made good profits for Southampton Corporation. however, the Corporation had not reinvested those profits into the tram system. As a result, by the end of the Second World War, the whole system needed modernisation - the trams, the power supply and the track. It was decided that buses were a better alternative. The first line to close was Bitterne Park - St. Mary's - Docks, which closed on 15 May1948. Swaythling - Portswood - Lodge Road - Stag Gates closed on 30 October 1948. Swaythling - Burgess Road - Bassett Crossroads - Avenue Junction closed on 5 March1949. Floating Bridge - Shirley, Holy Rood - High Street - Royal Pier and Roberts Road - Millbrook all closed on 31 December 1949. The last movement of a tram in Southampton was on 4 February1950 when cars No.21 and No.101 were moved from Shirley depot to Portswood depot under their own power. After closure, some trams were sold to Leeds, but the majority were sent to A F Harris's scrapyard at Bevois Valley for scrapping. A few were sold on from there to be used as sheds or summer houses, which enabled the preservation of three vehicles.[1]